Garment with Regionally Varied Evaporative Cooling Properties

ABSTRACT

A garment, such as a shirt, shorts, socks, or a hat, is disclosed for efficiently cooling an individual by water evaporation, thereby reducing perspiration, dehydration, loss of electrolytes, and discomfort. The garment includes at least one property that is intentionally non-uniform, so as to concentrate and retain applied water in areas where enhanced cooling is desired. Variable properties include structure, density, composition, texture, type and/or quantity of additive substances, included fabric layers, and degree of contact with a user&#39;s body. A source of water can be included, for example in an attachable container. The container can be compressed, water can be pumped, or compressed air can push water from the container. A pump can be actuated by hand or by natural movements of a user. A drinking port can be included, and a pouch can hold a removable, water-absorbing and water-releasing insert that can be pre-wetted and/or pre-cooled.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to cooling individuals, and morespecifically to evaporative cooling of individuals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Exercise is generally known to have many benefits for individuals of allages. These benefits include improved cardiovascular health, reducedblood pressure, prevention of bone and muscle loss, maintenance of ahealthy weight, improved psychological heath, and many others. However,exercise is generally accompanied by a certain degree of discomfort,including overheating, sweating, etc, and this leads to a significantreduction in the intensity, duration, and frequency of exerciseundertaken by many individuals, thereby reducing the health benefitsthat can be derived from recreational and conditioning exercise. Excessheating during exercise can also reduce peak athletic performance,because the performance of a muscle deteriorates when the muscle isoverheated.

Overheating of an individual can also occur during leisure activitiesdue to exposure to sunlight and other warm weather conditions. Suchoverheating can reduce the comfort of these activities and shorten theamount of time that they can be enjoyed. In addition, individuals canbecome overheated while performing work in a hot environment, eitherindoors or outdoors, thereby decreasing their productivity and comfort,and possibly even endangering their health.

The body's primary method of cooling when overheated is perspiration.Perspiration is highly effective because water has a high heat capacityand a high heat of vaporization, and so the evaporation of perspirationis an efficient mechanism for eliminating unwanted heat. However, thereare several major disadvantages to perspiration, including dehydration,loss of electrolytes, chafing of the skin, and unwanted odors. Also,perspiration often collects in locations on the body and in clothingwhere evaporation is least effective, such as under the arms or in shirttails. This can increase weight and discomfort without any increase inthe cooling effect.

There are many approaches known for helping to keep a physically activeindividual cool, thereby reducing perspiration and discomfort. Forexample, if an activity takes place indoors, the ambient air can bemaintained at a low temperature by an air conditioning system. However,cooling by this method is limited because air has a low heat capacityand does not make good thermal contact with the body. Fans and humiditycontrollers can be used to increase heat transfer from the body of anindividual to the air, but these approaches still cannot providesufficient cooling in all cases. And when exercise, leisure activities,or work occur outdoors, these approaches are largely unavailable.

One of the simplest ways to cool an individual is to apply water toclothing being worn by the individual. The clothing retains the waterand presents it over a significant area for evaporation, whilesimultaneously making contact with the skin of the individual so as totransfer the evaporative cooling to the individual. However, thisapproach has several flaws, since water that is applied or that drainsto areas that are not in thermal contact with the individual's body willadd unnecessary weight to the clothing, causing chafing and other kindsof discomfort, and contributing little to the cooling of the individual.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A garment is claimed for efficiently cooling an individual by waterevaporation, so as to reduce the need for the individual to perspire,thereby reducing the dehydration, loss of electrolytes, and discomfortassociated with perspiration. The garment includes at least one propertythat is intentionally non-uniform, so as to concentrate water receivedby the garment in areas of the body where enhanced cooling is desired,while minimizing the tendency for water to collect in areas of thegarment where it is not effective in cooling the individual.

The invention is a wearable apparatus for cooling a person, theapparatus including a garment formed so as to cover and fit in contactwith a portion of the skin of a person, the garment being able to coolthe person by allowing evaporation of water received by the garment, atleast one property of the garment being non-uniform across the garmentso that enhanced cooling is applied to portions of the body of theperson where cooling is intended.

In preferred embodiments, cooling is intended where at least one of thefollowing occurs: cooling of subcutaneous blood is enhanced; cooling ofexercising muscles is enhanced; and comfort of the person is enhanced.In some preferred embodiments the structure, density, composition,and/or texture of the garment is spatially varied so as to localize andevaporate received water unevenly. And in other preferred embodiments atype and/or quantity of additive substances applied to and/or embeddedin the garment is spatially varied so as to localize and evaporatereceived water unevenly.

In certain preferred embodiments there is a water absorbent substanceembedded in the garment that moderates the wetness of the garment byabsorbing water from the garment when too much water is received, andreleasing water into the garment when insufficient water is present.

In further preferred embodiments thermal contact between the garment andthe portion of the body of the person is spatially uneven. And in somepreferred embodiments the garment includes a layer with non-uniformproperties that mediates the rate of evaporative cooling of the body ofthe person.

In various preferred embodiments the garment is a shirt, shorts, socks,or a hat, the garment is disposable, and/or the garment is able toreceive water exuded by the person as perspiration.

In preferred embodiments the invention further includes a source ofwater. In some of these embodiments the source of water includes acontainer that can contain water, and in some of these embodiments thecontainer is at least attachable to the garment, and/or can be attachedto the garment and surrounded by layers of garment. In other of theseembodiments the garment is able to direct water from the container toareas of the garment where evaporative cooling is desired.

In certain embodiments that include a container of water, the containercan be compressed by the person so as to push water onto the garment.And in some of these embodiments the garment includes two shoulders, andsources of water are attachable to the two shoulders of the garment.

In further embodiments that include a source of water, the inventionfurther includes a pump that is able to pump water from the source ofwater to the garment. And in some of these embodiments the pump isoperated automatically when the body of the person undergoes bodymovements such as breathing, walking, arm movements, and leg movements.

In yet further embodiments that include a source of water, the source ofwater includes an air space cooperative with water contained in thesource of water, the air space being fillable with compressed air so asto apply pressure to the water, thereby pushing water onto the garment.And in some of these embodiments the air space is separated from thewater in the source of water by a flexible barrier that is able to applypressure to the water while ensuring that only water will be deliveredby the source of water to the garment. In other of these embodiments thesource of water includes a pump operable by the person so as to compressthe air in the air space. And in some of these embodiments the pump isoperated automatically when the body of the person undergoes movementssuch as breathing, walking, arm movements, and leg movements.

In various embodiments that include a source of water, at least some ofthe water supplied by the source of water is maintained in thermalcontact with the person before it is delivered to the garment. And inother such embodiments a drinking port is included that can be used bythe person to drink from the source of water. In some of theseembodiments water can be pushed onto the garment by blowing into thedrinking port.

In certain preferred embodiments the garment is able to receive andretain a removable water-absorbing and water-releasing insert, so as toaccumulate water and supply water to a non-uniform area where cooling isdesired. In some of these preferred embodiments water can be absorbed bythe water-absorbent insert before the water-absorbent insert is retainedby the garment, thereby delivering water to the garment for evaporativecooling. And in other of these preferred embodiments the water-absorbentinsert can be cooled before being retained by the garment.

In still other preferred embodiments, the garment further includes awater barrier that tends to restrain water received by the garmentwithin a desired region of the garment

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective drawing of a shirt with a water retaining areain the chest;

FIG. 1B is a perspective drawing of a shirt with a water retaining areain the chest surrounded by a water barrier that tents to prevent waterfrom migrating from the water retaining area into other regions of theshirt;

FIG. 1C is a perspective drawing of a shirt with a water retaining areain the chest that includes a pocket into which a water absorbent and/orwater saturated item can be placed;

FIG. 2A is a close-up, cross-sectional drawing of ordinary fabric;

FIG. 2B is a close-up, cross sectional view of the fabric of FIG. 2Awith a second layer added as so as to keep prevent water in the fabricfrom reaching the skin of someone wearing the fabric;

FIG. 2C is a close-up, cross sectional view of fabric that is smooth onthe inside and has texture on the outside so as to increase the surfacearea available for evaporative cooling;

FIG. 2D is a close-up, cross sectional view of a fabric similar to thefabric of FIG. 2C, but with indentations on the inside so as to maintaina uniform fabric thickness;

FIG. 2E is a close-up, cross sectional view of fabric that combines thefeatures of FIG. 2B and FIG. 2D;

FIG. 2F is a close up, cross sectional view of fabric similar to thefabric of FIG. 2E, except that the inner layer fills the indentations inthe inner surface of the outer layer;

FIG. 2G is a close-up, cross sectional view of fabric similar to thefabric of FIG. 2F except that an additional padding layer has been addedto make the fabric more comfortable to wear;

FIG. 2H is a close-up, cross sectional view of fabric with particlesembedded in the fabric that moderate the wetness of the fabric byabsorbing excess water and releasing water when too little is present;

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing of an exerciser using a stationaryexercise device while wearing a shirt that concentrates perspiration inthe chest area and is cooled by a fan;

FIG. 4A is a perspective drawing of an exerciser on a bicycle wearingboth a shirt and shorts that include water concentrating areas, with thebicycle rider spraying water onto the shirt from a water bottle;

FIG. 4B is a perspective drawing of an exerciser on a bicycle wearingboth a shirt and shorts that include water concentrating areas, with thebicycle rider spraying water onto the shorts from a water bottle;

FIG. 4C is a perspective drawing of an exerciser on a bicycle wearing ashirt that includes a water concentrating area and shorts that includewater concentrating areas on the tops of the thighs, with water suppliedby gravity to the shirt and shorts from a container of water carried onthe bicycle rider's back;

FIG. 4D is a perspective drawing of an exerciser on a bicycle wearing ashirt that includes a water concentrating area on the back, with waterpumped to the shirt from a container of water mounted to the frame ofthe bicycle;

FIG. 4E is a perspective drawing of an exerciser on a bicycle wearingboth a shirt and shorts that include water concentrating areas, withwater supplied to the shirt and shorts under air pressure from acontainer of water carried on the bicycle rider's back, a drinking portalso being supplied with water by the container of water;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional side view of a water bottle that uses aircompressed in a space above the water to push water onto the garment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view of a water bottle that uses aircompressed in a bladder surrounding water to push water onto the garmentof the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a cross sectional drawing of the water bottle of FIG. 5Boriented at right angles to the drawing of FIG. 4C;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a runner running while wearing theshirt of FIG. 1A as well as a hat with a water concentrating area on theforehead, the runner being illustrated as spraying water from a waterbottle onto the shirt;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a runner running while wearing theshirt of FIG. 1A, to which a visual indication has been added thatencourages onlookers to spray water onto the water retaining area;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a worker painting the exterior of ahouse while wearing a shirt with a water absorbent area on the back, asource of water, and a hand pump for pumping water onto the shirt;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the worker of FIG. 7A wherein the handpump is able to compress air into the source of water so as to forcewater onto the shirt;

FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the worker of FIG. 7A and FIG. 7Bwherein the pump is activated automatically by movement of the painter'sleg so as to pump compressed air into the source of water and forcewater onto the shirt;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hiker wearing a shirt with a waterconcentration region that includes a pouch into which the hiker ispreparing to insert a wet towel;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tennis player wearing socks thatinclude water retaining regions on the calf areas and water barriersthat discourage water from flowing downward into the shoes worn by thetennis player;

FIG. 10A is a thermogram of the back of an individual, with the darkareas indicating the areas that radiate the greatest amount of heat; and

FIG. 10B is a shirt with a water retaining region on the back that isdesigned to approximate the region of greatest heat radiation revealedby the thermogram of FIG. 10A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1A, the apparatus of the invention includes agarment, shown in FIG. 1A as a shirt 100, the garment including acooling region 102, having a property intentionally chosen to optimizeevaporative cooling in a corresponding region of a users body wherecooling is desirable. In FIG. 1A, the cooling region 102 is a region ofhigh absorbency that retains water and inhibits it from flowing intolower regions of the shirt where the cooling benefits of the water wouldbe minimal. In various embodiments, properties that enhance evaporativecooling include increased thickness, higher absorbency, greater surfacearea, fabric weave, imbedded water-absorbent polymer particles, andmultiple layers. Water can be applied to the shirt by any convenientmeans, such as a spray bottle or hose, and/or it can be supplied byperspiration of a user.

FIG. 1B illustrates a preferred embodiment similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 1A, except that a water-repelling region 104 surrounds the coolingregion. The water-repelling region 104 serves as a water barrier so asto further inhibit migration of water beyond the cooling region 102.

FIG. 1C illustrates a preferred embodiment similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 1A, except that the non-uniform area 102 includes a pouch 106 intowhich a water-retentive object 108 such as a sponge or a block ofhydro-gel polymer can be inserted. The water-retentive object 108 servesto increase the water retaining capacity of the non-uniform region 102,replenishing the region with water 110 as water evaporates. Thewater-retentive object 108 can be saturated with water 110 before beinginserted in the pouch 106, and/or it can absorb water 110 applied bysome other means.

FIG. 2A through FIG. 2H illustrate fabric designs from various preferredembodiments that enhance evaporative cooling in areas of a user's bodywhere cooling is desired. FIG. 2A presents a close-up view of thewater-absorbent fabric 102 used to absorb and concentrate water in theshirt of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2B illustrates similar fabric 102 to which aninner, waterproof, thermally conducting layer 104 has been added toinhibit water from reaching a user's skin. In FIG. 2C the inward-facingsurface of the fabric 102 is smooth while texture 202 is included on theoutward-facing surface of the fabric 102, so as to increase the area ofexposure to the air, consequently increasing the rate of evaporativecooling. FIG. 2D is similar to FIG. 2C, except that the fabric retains auniform thickness, thereby forming pockets 203 on the inward-facingsurface. The fabric illustrated in FIG. 2E combines the features of FIG.2B and FIG. 2D, while the fabric illustrated in FIG. 2F is similar toFIG. 2E except that the inner layer fills in the pockets 205 of theouter layer 102. FIG. 2G illustrates an embodiment similar to FIG. 2F inwhich an innermost padding layer has been added to enhance the comfortof a user. And FIG. 2H illustrates a fabric similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 2A, except that water absorbent particles 208 are embedded in thefabric 102. The water absorbent particles 208, which in preferredembodiments are gel polymers, moderate the degree of wetness of thefabric 102 by absorbing water when too much water is applied, andreleasing water when too little water is present.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing showing an exerciser 300 using astationary exercise device 302 while wearing the shirt 100 of FIG. 1A.Water is supplied to the shirt 100 by any convenient means, such asspraying it on from a spray bottle. So as to further increase thecooling effect, a fan 304 is used to blow air onto the shirt andincrease the rate of evaporative cooling.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are perspective drawings of a bicycle rider 400riding a bicycle 402 while wearing a shirt 100 similar to the shirt ofFIG. 1A, including a non-uniform area 102 on the front of the shirt thatretains and concentrates water for enhanced cooling. The bicycle rider400 is also wearing shorts 404 that include non-uniform areas 406surrounding the upper legs that retain and concentrate water so as tofurther cool the bicycle rider 400. A flow of air resulting frommovement of the bicycle 402 enhances the evaporative cooling of theshirt 100 and shorts 404. In FIG. 4A, the bicycle rider 400 is supplyingwater 408 to the shirt 100 by spraying the water 408 onto the shirt 100from a water bottle 410. In FIG. 4B the bicycle rider is supplying waterin the same manner to the shorts.

FIG. 4C is a perspective drawing of a bicycle rider 400 similar to thebicycle rider 400 of FIG. 1A and FIG. 4B, except that water is suppliedthrough a hose 412 to the non-uniform area 102 on the shirt 100 from awater bottle 414 carried on the back of the bicycle rider 400.Similarly, water is supplied from the water bottle 414 through the hose412 to non-uniform, water-retaining areas 406 that cover just the frontsof the bicycle rider's thighs, thereby enhancing the athleticperformance of the bicycle rider 400 by cooling the muscles that areworking the hardest, while at the same time keeping the remainder of thebicycle rider's shorts dry for maximum comfort.

FIG. 4D is similar to FIG. 4C, except that only the shirt includes anon-uniform area 102, and the non-uniform area 102 is on the back of theshirt 100. In addition, the water bottle 414 is mounted to the frame ofthe bicycle 402, rather than being carried on the back of the bicyclerider 400. In this embodiment, the bicycle rider 400 can control theamount of water delivered to the shirt 100 by pressing on a water pumphandle (not shown) conveniently positioned on the handlebars of thebicycle 402.

FIG. 4E is similar to FIG. 4D, except that the bicycle rider is alsowearing the shorts 404 of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, and the non-uniform areas102, 406 of the shirt 100 and shorts 404 are supplied with water througha set of hoses 412 from a water bottle 414 attached horizontally to theback of the bicycle rider 400. The water bottle 414 in FIG. 4E containspressurized air that forces the water onto the shirt 100 and the shorts404. Water from the water bottle 414 is also supplied to a drinking port416 located near the mouth of the bicycle rider 400, allowing the waterto be used for drinking as well as cooling. In addition, the bicyclerider can pressurize the air in the water bottle 414 by blowing into thedrinking port 416.

FIG. 5A presents a cross sectional diagram of a water bottle 500 thatcan be used in preferred embodiments as a source of water for thegarment of the invention. Water 502 can be contained in the bottle 500and dispensed through a fitting 504 mounted at one end of the bottle500. The water 502 flows to the fitting 504 through a tube 506 thatdraws the water 502 from the bottom of the bottle 500. An air space 508located above the water 502 can be filled with pressurized air using anair fitting 510, thereby causing the water 502 to flow onto the garmentunder pressure. The embodiment of FIG. 5A is appropriate forcircumstances wherein the bottle 500 will be maintained in asubstantially upright orientation, as shown for example in FIG. 4C.

FIG. 5B illustrates a water bottle 500 used in embodiments where theorientation of the bottle 500 will not necessarily be vertical, forexample as shown in FIG. 4E. In FIG. 5B, compressed air 508 is separatedfrom the water 502 by a flexible membrane 512 that allows the air 508 toapply pressure to the water 502, but prevents the air 508 from beingaccidentally drawn out of the bottle 500 instead of the water 502. Thecentral tube 506 in this embodiment includes holes 514 that allow waterto enter the tube 506 at a plurality of locations along its length,thereby preventing any blockage of water flow as the membrane 512collapses inward. FIG. 5C presents a cross section of the water bottleof FIG. 5B.

FIG. 6A is a perspective drawing of a runner 600 running while wearingthe shirt 100 of FIG. 1A, including a water concentrating region 102 onthe front of the shirt. The runner is also wearing a hat 602 with anon-uniform region 604 that enhances cooling of the runner's forehead.The runner 600 is shown spraying water 408 onto the non-uniform area 102of the shirt 100 from a water bottle 410. Water can be applied to thewater concentrating region of the hat 604 in a similar manner.

FIG. 6B is a perspective drawing of an embodiment similar to theembodiment of FIG. 6A, except that the runner 600 is not wearing a hat(602 of FIG. 6A), and a visible text illustration 606 is included on thenon-uniform region 102 of the shirt 100 so as to encourage bystanders tospray water 408 onto the indicated region 102 of the shirt 100 as therunner 600 passes by.

FIG. 7A illustrates use of the present invention to cool a workerperforming outdoor work that could otherwise lead to overheating. InFIG. 7A, a house painter 700 is painting the exterior of a house on awarm day while standing in direct sunlight. He is wearing a shirt 702that includes a non-uniform region 704 on the back that retains waterfor maximum evaporative cooling in that region. Water is pushed to thenon-uniform region 704 through a hose 706 by a hand pump 708 so as tokeep the non-uniform region 704 wet. A bottle 708 strapped to thepainter's waist supplies water.

FIG. 7B is a perspective drawing of an embodiment similar to theembodiment of FIG. 7A, except that the water bottle 710 containspressurized air that forces water onto the non-uniform region 704 of theshirt 702. The painter 700 uses a squeezable pump 708 to maintain thepressure of the air inside of the water bottle 710. In this embodiment,water is supplied continuously to the shirt 702 by the pressurized air,thereby maintaining continuous cooling of the painter 700 whilerequiring the painter 700 to operate the pump 708 only occasionally soas to maintain pressure in the water bottle 710.

FIG. 7C is a perspective drawing of an embodiment similar to theembodiment of FIG. 7B, except that the air in the water bottle 710 isautomatically pressurized by a pump 712 attached to the leg of the housepainter 700, such that the pump 712 is actuated automatically by thenatural movements of the house painter 700.

FIG. 8 is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment in which ahiker 800 is hiking while wearing a shirt 802 that includes non-uniformareas on the shoulders 804 and collar 806. The hiker 800 has soakedtowels in a local source of water, and has inserted them into pouches106 also located on the shoulders, so as to serve as a supply of waterfor evaporative cooling of the non-uniform region 102 on the shouldersof the shirt 802.

FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of a tennis player 900 wearing socks 902that include water retaining regions 904 that enhance cooling of thecalves of the tennis player 900. The socks 902 also includewater-repellant barriers 906 that inhibit water from flowing from thewater retaining regions 904 into the shoes 908 worn by the tennis player900.

In preferred embodiments, it is desirable to locate regions of enhancedcooling in areas of the garment that will be in contact with areas of auser's body that emit the greatest amount of heat. One approach todetermining these areas is to measure them using a thermogram. FIG. 10Aillustrates a thermogram 1000 obtained from the back of an individualthat indicates the relative amounts of heat emitted from differentregions of the individual's back. The darkest areas 1002 indicate areasof greatest heat emission. FIG. 10B illustrates a shirt 1004 in apreferred embodiment where the non-uniform region 1006 has been shapedand located according to the information obtained from the thermogram1000.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the inventionas claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limitthe invention except as indicated in the following claims.

1. A wearable apparatus for cooling a person, the apparatus comprising:a garment shaped so as to cover and fit in contact with a portion of theskin of a person; the garment being able to cool the person by allowingevaporation of water received by the garment; and at least one propertyof the garment being varied across the garment, so as to enhance theability of a region of the garment to provide evaporative cooling of acorresponding region of the body of the person where enhanced cooling isdesirable.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein cooling is intendedwhere at least one of: cooling of subcutaneous blood is enhanced;cooling of exercising muscles is enhanced; and comfort of the person isenhanced.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of thestructure, density, composition, and texture of the garment is spatiallyvaried so as to localize and evaporate received water unevenly.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of a type and quantity ofadditive substances at least one of applied to and embedded in thegarment is spatially varied so as to localize and evaporate receivedwater unevenly.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the garmentincludes a water absorbent substance embedded in the garment thatmoderates the wetness of the garment by absorbing water from the garmentwhen too much water is received, and releasing water into the garmentwhen insufficient water is present.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthermal contact between the garment and the portion of the body of theperson is spatially uneven.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein thegarment includes a layer with non-uniform properties that mediates therate of evaporative cooling of the body of the person.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the garment is one of a shirt, shorts, socks, and ahat.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the garment is disposable. 10.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the garment is able to receive waterexuded by the person as perspiration.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a source of water.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the source of water includes a container that can contain water.13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the container is at leastattachable to the garment.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein thecontainer can be attached to the garment and surrounded by layers of thegarment.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the garment is able todirect water from the container to areas of the garment whereevaporative cooling is desired.
 16. The garment of claim 12, wherein thecontainer can be compressed by the person so as to push water onto thegarment.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the garment includes twoshoulders, and sources of water are attachable to the two shoulders ofthe garment.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the source of waterincludes a pump that is able to pump water from the source of water tothe garment.
 19. The garment of claim 18, wherein the pump is operatedautomatically when the body of the person undergoes movement that is atleast one of: breathing; walking; moving of arms; moving of legs; andother body movements.
 20. The garment of claim 11, wherein the source ofwater includes an air space cooperative with water contained in thesource of water, the air space being fillable with compressed air so asto apply pressure to the water, thereby pushing the water onto thegarment.
 21. The garment of claim 20, wherein the air space is separatedfrom the water in the source of water by a flexible barrier that is ableto apply pressure to the water while ensuring that only water will bedelivered by the source of water to the garment.
 22. The garment ofclaim 20, wherein the source of water includes a pump operable by theperson so as to compress the air in the air space.
 23. The garment ofclaim 22, wherein the pump is operated automatically when the body ofthe person undergoes movement that is at least one of: breathing;walking; moving of arms; moving of legs; and other body movements. 24.The garment of claim 11, wherein at least some of the water supplied bythe source of water is maintained in thermal contact with the personbefore it is delivered to the shirt.
 25. The apparatus of claim 11,further comprising a drinking port that can be used by the person todrink from the source of water.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, whereinwater can be pushed onto the garment by blowing into the drinking port.27. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is able to receive andretain a removable water-absorbing and water-releasing insert, so as toaccumulate water and supply water to a non-uniform area where cooling isdesired.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the removablewater-absorbing and water-releasing insert can be received by thegarment in a state wherein it is pre-wetted.
 29. The apparatus of claim27, wherein the removable water-absorbing and water-releasing insert canbe cooled before being retained by the garment.
 30. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a water barrier that tends to restrain waterreceived by the garment within a desired region of the garment.